Michael Hayes

Developed web and mobile user experiences for B2B/SaaS products, specializing in the Job Strategy, Interviewing, Hiring, and Onboarding domains.

• Led the recruitment, management, and mentorship of a distributed team of UX managers, designers, and researchers, fostering a culture of collaboration, growth, and accountability.
• Crafted a comprehensive design strategy focused on delivering simplistic, consistent, and intuitive user experiences and interactions.
• Created and optimized a user-centered UX design process, emphasizing research, communication, and adaptability.
• Integrated brand elements and design components into an atomic design system to establish standardized guidelines and enhance workflow consistency.
• Established streamlined customer touch-points to facilitate efficient research and feedback processes, enabling rapid iteration and validation of ideas and solutions.
• Collaborated closely with leadership and stakeholders to enhance cross-functional communication and promote organizational goals.
• Advocated for user needs, providing instruction and education to teams on the strategic value of superior user experiences for achieving success.

Provided creative direction to support fully responsive designs adhering to 508c/WCAG accessibility standards, while offering professional guidance to the UX team to maximize their potential.

• Strategically restructured the UX team and implemented updated design tools to significantly improve efficiency and collaboration.
• Implemented team knowledge sharing sessions, project presentations, and peer reviews to refine design quality and foster skill development among employees.

Spearheaded an initiative to analyze and optimize the end-to-end user experience development process.

• Performed a comprehensive review of the UX process by conducting interviews with cross-functional leads and individual contributors, identifying pain points and communication gaps.
• Presented process findings to organizational leadership, effectively communicating the need for updates and gaining comprehensive agreement. Developed a clear timeline for implementing recommended improvements.
• Revamped the UX process by enhancing product roadmap and business goal visibility. Established dedicated design teams and implemented additional project milestones with stakeholders to drive collaboration and alignment.

Led the User Experience Team for a highly regarded Learning and Integrated Talent software solution, embraced by 3,500 customers worldwide and serving 45 million global users.

• Recruited and mentored a team of talented UX designers and researchers, guiding their professional growth and development.
• Streamlined and optimized the end-to-end user experience design process, from initial concept to release, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.
• Developed and implemented visual hierarchy and interaction design guidelines to ensure consistency and enhance user satisfaction.
• Effectively estimated and assigned UX projects to individual contributors, aligning their capacity and skillsets with product timelines for project success.
• Empowered and supported direct reports to excel in their areas of expertise, maximizing their potential for success.
• Advocated the strategic value of delivering exceptional user experiences across departments, fostering a user-centric mindset throughout the organization.
• Produced high-quality sketches, wireframes, mockup assets, and interactive prototypes for usability testing and engineering development.
• Conducted customer focus groups and usability sessions to gather valuable user feedback and validate design decisions, ensuring the delivery of user-driven solutions.

Led enterprise-level projects as the Lead UX Designer, overseeing design, integration, and usability improvement initiatives for HCM software solutions.

• Implemented a robust UX process, actively educating stakeholders on its significance and consistently managing expectations.
• Defined and documented software consistency standards to ensure a cohesive and user-friendly experience across products.
• Created sketches, wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and finalized design assets to drive the creation of user-centered experiences.
• Mentored and guided junior designers to foster their professional growth and enhance team performance.

Led and executed design projects focused on corporate identity and web design, resulting in enhanced brand awareness and increased visibility.

• Engaged in comprehensive consultations with clients to assess project requirements and scope, providing valuable insights and recommendations.
• Conducted accurate budget estimations and diligently managed projects to ensure timely completion within allocated budgets.
• Created visually compelling design concepts and effectively presented them to clients, ensuring alignment with their expectations and project goals.
• Crafted pixel-perfect user-centered interfaces that prioritize usability, accessibility, and a seamless user experience.
• Produced logos, illustrations, and icons that enhance brand identity and visual communication.

Served as the lead visual designer in a dynamic Agile start-up environment, overseeing user interface design and developing HTML/CSS templates for a high-value LMS enterprise software application utilized by State and Federal agencies.

• Oversaw the presentation layer of all enterprise web applications, ensuring consistent and high-quality design implementation.
• Constructed standardized, cross-browser compatible websites and templates, adhering to industry best practices and accessibility guidelines.
• Created wireframes and hi-fidelity interactive prototypes to communicate design concepts and gather feedback.
• Designed impactful corporate logos, illustrations, and icons that effectively conveyed brand identity and messaging.
• Planned and executed the design of corporate marketing materials, including brochures, websites, business cards, flyers, and trade show booths.
• Conducted client interviews to accurately capture and document requirements, facilitating successful project outcomes.
• Presented visual concepts and design solutions to clients and stakeholders, effectively communicating design intent and obtaining feedback and approval.